Music-sheet holder.



F. W. BARROWS. MUSIC SHEET HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15,1905.

PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MUSIC-SHEET HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed April 15, 1905. Serial No. 255,739.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known. that I, FRANK W. BARROWS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leominster, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music- Sheet Holders, of which the following is a specification.

As at present constructed the music used by bandsmen is contained in books or on loose sheets that are secured to the instrument by means of a spring-clasp mounted on the instrument. This means of holding the music is unsatisfactory because the prongs of the clasp hide some of the notes in the score and also if there is a breeze the corners of the leaves are blown over so as to hide a part of the selection. Another disadvantage of the old style of music-holder is that whenever the selection is to be changed the musician has to take the music out of the holder, place the instrument under his arm, turn over the leaves of the book containing the music until the selection is found, and then replace the music in the holder.

My invention relates to the improvement of these devices; and it consists of easing that may be mounted on the music-holding standard so that the prongs do not rest on the musicpage, while the music is printed on separate leaves, with numbered, lettered, or otherwisedesignated tabs on their upper edge to answer for finger-holds to handle the leaf, as well as for indexes for ready reference. A spring and pivoted clasp is secured to the top of the casing and is adapted to hold the leaves in the casing. This construction permits of changing the selection without removing the music-holder from the instrument, and the music-leaves are so held while the instrument is being played that all the notes are visible and are not disturbed by the wind.

My invention will be more particularly described hereinafter and. illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of my improved music-sheet holder, showing it secured to the standard usually employed for this purpose and the music-sheets in position; and Fig. 2, a view in cross-section on the line was of Fig. 1.

In the drawings similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout both views.

A represents a rectangular casing consisting of an upright back B, a flange 0, extending out from the lower edge of the back B, and

flanges D, extending from the side edges thereof. Flange C is formed with a slot 0 to receive the stationary portion E of the musicholder F usually employed by lmndsmcn, the o0 holder being turned around so that the clamp Gr engages.thc back B and does not hide any of the notes on the music-score.

The side flanges l) are formed with inwardly-extcnding lips H, which hold the side edges of the shoots of music 1, while at the top of the back portion B is secured a pivoted clasp J to hold the top edges of said sheets I. Each of the sheets I is separately removable from the casing A and have integral therewith or secured thereto tabs K, having designating characters, such as numerals or letters, thereon for ready reference. In. the drawings the designating characters are shown to be numerals and the tabs are so arranged that the numerals read from 1 to 10 from left to right along the top edge of the sheets. Should more than ten sheets be placed in the casing, tabs having the same relative position as tab designated 1 may be designated. 1], 21, '31, and soon. Those having the same relative position as tab designated 2 may be designated l2," 22, 32, 42, and so on and the same plan be adopted for each of the other series of tabs.

By my device it will be readily seen that a ready-reference index is secured, and much confusion may be avoided in bands employ ing my system in looking for the scores of the various numbers of a program, the only thing necessary being a list of the index-numbers of the pieces to be played, or the leader may readily introduce an interpolated piece into his program by announcing the number on the indextabs of the piece to be interpolated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination with a music-holder comprising a stationary portion and a clamp pivotally secured thereto, a casing consisting of a rectangular back having lateral flanges, one of said flanges being slotted to receive the stationary portion of the music-holder, the clamp engaging the back of the casing, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with a music-holder comprising a stationary portion and a clamp pivotally secured thereto, a casing consisting of a rectangular back having lateral flanges extending from three sides thereof, and inwardly-extending lips on two of said flanges,

one of said flanges; being slotted to reeeive the stutionnuv portion of the musie-holder, the clamp thereon engaging the heck, Substantially as shown and described.

3. In combination with a. music-holder eolnprising 1L stetiolniry portion and a. elznnp pivotnlly secured thereto, :1. easing eonsisting of an upright flat, reetnngnllu buck having l; terul llztnges extending from the lower edge and the two sides thereof, the side flanges haw 111g inwardlyextending lips, the flange on the lower edge slotted to receive the stetlonm'y I portion of the lmnaie-holder the elmnp thereon engaging the book of mid easing. and e. pivoted elasp secured to the upper edge ol' the easing, substantially as shown .md described.

ln testimony whereof .1 hereto nllix my signature in the preeenee of two witneeeeo.

FRANK W. BARROWS.

VVitneones:

Genet; A. BnowN, J. N. P. Eran. 

